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Author: Salafi Dawah Manchester

The Usefulness of Pious, Humble and Sensible People In The Sittings And Gatherings

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam As-Sadi [rahimahullaah] said:

When you sit with the people, make humility the sign by which you are recognized, fear of Allaah should be your shield and giving advice to the servants of Allaah as your constant habit. Be eager to (make) every gathering in which you sit one of goodness- either research into affairs of knowledge or advice on religious matters; either directing (others) towards a general or a particular beneficial affair, or making a mention of the blessings of Allaah; either making a mention of the superior status of praiseworthy manners and good etiquettes or warning against that which is detrimental to the well-being of one’s religious or worldly (affairs). The least of this [i.e. your companionship and advice to those you sit with] is that the earnings from their occupations should be by way of permissible (means) and not what is forbidden.

Behave well towards the young, the old and your peers. Deal toward everyone in a way they deserve and have respect for the one who deserves to be respected and honoured. Be eager to make your congregation relaxed by way of speech that is appropriate and good, even if that was in relation to the worldly (affairs).

The sensible and determined person achieves abundant goodness in the gatherings of the people and he becomes more beloved to them than all [beloved things]. This is because he approaches the people with what they approve [i.e. good] and statements they desire, and the foundation in this is success in taking over control of all the affairs placed before them.

And these affairs [i.e. good advice and companionship] become more emphasized on a journey, because during a journey sitting together is prolonged and the travellers are in need of having someone who revives their hearts with good statements, the news of events and joke – if all of that is truth and not too much-and to assist them with the essential affairs of travel. And Allaah is the One who grants all success.

[An Excerpt from ‘Noorul Basaa’ir Wal al-baab fee ahkaam al ‘Ibaadaat Wal Mu‘aamalaat Wal Huqooq Wal Aadaab’ pages 64-65. Slightly paraphrased]

If Speech Is From Silver, Silence Is Gold

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Pearls of Wisdom.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower.

Ibnul Mubaarak [rahimahullaah] was asked about the statement of Luqmaan [alayhis-salaam] to his son: ‘’If speech is from silver, then silence is from gold.” So he said: ‘’It means that if speech in obedience to Allaah is from silver, then silence [in order to refrain from] disobedience to Allaah is gold’’.

[Jaami-ul Uloom Wal-Hikam: page: 155]

 

Sahaabah Are Not to Be Compared to Anyone After Them

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief).

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Abul Haarith As-Saa’iq [rahimahullaah] said, ‘’I heard Abu Abdillaah [Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah)] saying, ‘He [The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] said, ‘The best of the people are those living in my generation’. Therefore, none of his companions are to be compared to the Taabi’een’’’. [Ref 1]

Al-Fadl Bin Ziyaad [rahimahullaah] said, ‘’I heard Abu Abdillaah [Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah)] when he was asked about a man who belittles Mu’aawiyah and Amr Ibnul Aas [radiyallaahu-anhuma], whether he should be called a Raafidi? So he said, ‘Indeed, he [i.e. this man] did not become insolent towards them except that he is one with hidden evil [in his heart]. No one belittles anyone amongst the companions of the Prophet [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] except that he has a hidden evil [in his heart]’’’. [Ref 2]

[Ref 1: Masaa’il Imaam Ahmad; Narration Number 394; Vol 1. page: 396]

[Ref 2: Masaa-il Imaam Ahmad; Narration Number 401; Vol 1.page 397]

 

Who Are The Close Friends of Allaah?

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Purification of The Soul.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Question: The female questioner asks: Who are the people of Allaah and those closest to Him, and how can a person be from them as occurs in the hadeeth of the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam]?

Answer:

The hadeeth was transmitted from Anas Ibn Maalik [radiyallaahu-anhu] by Imaam Ahmad [rahimahullaah] and Imaam Ibn Maajah [rahimahullaah], and it is an authentic hadeeth. The Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘’Allaah has His own people [i.e. special people beloved to Allaah] among mankind’’. They said, ‘’O Messenger of Allah!  Who are they?’’ He said, ‘’The people of the Qur’aan, the people of Allaah and those are closest to Him’’. [Sunan Ibn Maajah Hadeeth Number 215 and Musnad Ahmad hadeeth number 11870. And declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah)]

The people of the Qur’aan are those who recite the Book of Allaah [i.e. the Qur’aan]; act upon it and implement it in their lives. They fulfil what Allaah has commanded in it and keep away from what He has forbidden. These are Allaah’s people and His Awliyaa [close friends]. They are the pious believers who fear Allaah, just as Allaah [The Most High] stated:

أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ

No doubt! Verily, the Auliya’ of Allah [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allah and fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve, -Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds). [10:62-63]

We ask Allaah to include us amongst the people of the Qur’aan and those closest to Him.

[Source: Fadaa’il Al-A’maal’ page 11…by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]

Football: [You Don’t Have to Play Football, But There Is No Harm In Playing Football]

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] stated about the football:

There is no harm in playing football if the following conditions are fulfilled: 1: Clothing worn should cover what is haraam [i.e. awrah] for another person to see. 2: Should not lead to neglecting an obligation. 3: No foul language. 4: Should not be a habit, such as the one who plays every afternoon. As for playing sometimes, there is no harm in doing so for recreation. And there is no doubt that football invigorates the body and strengthens it. [Source: Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ pages 46-47]

 

Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad [rahimahullaah] Overcome With Tears Due To Pondering Upon Two Blessings of Allaah

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah) once cried when he read the statement of Allaah [The Most High]: [أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَل لَّهُ ۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ-Have We not made for him (i.e. the human) a pair of eyes?][ وَلِسَانً۬ا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ -And a tongue and a pair of lips?] [Ref 1]; then he was asked the reason he cried, so he said, ”Have you spent a night really thanking Allaah (for giving) you  two eyes by way of which you can see and a tongue by way of which you speak?’’  [Ref 2]

[Ref 1: Soorah Al-Balad: Aayaat:8-9]

[Ref 2: Jaami-ul Uloom wal-Hikam. Page 259. slightly paraphrased]

Four Types of People: [The Scholar, The Student, The Forgetful One And The One Who Is Unaware That He Does Not Know]

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Pearls of Wisdom.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Ibnul Jawzee [rahimahullaah] said, ”Sulaymaan Ibn Moosaa [rahimahullaah] said, ‘The people are four types”’. Also it has been reported to us from Ahnaf Ibn Qais [rahimahullaah] that he said, ”Khaleel Ibn Ahmad [rahimahullaah] said, ‘The people are four types: A man who knows and knows that he knows-this one is a scholar, so take from him. A man who knows, but he does not know that he knows-this one is forgetful, so he is to be reminded. A man who does not know and knows that he does not know-this one is a student, so teach him. A man who does not know that he does not know-this one is an idiot”’. [Akhbaarul Hamqaa. page: 15]

 

Shuraih Al-Qaadhiy’s Thankfulness When Afflicted With a Calamity

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Pearls of Wisdom, Scholars of Islam, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Shuraih Al-Qaadhiy [rahimahullaah] said: Indeed [when] afflicted by a calamity, I praise Allaah four times: I praise Allaah for not making the calamity greater than what it is. I praise Allaah for granting me patience. I praise Allaah for the reward I hope for in that calamity and I praise Allaah for not placing that calamity in the affairs of my religion.

[Shu’ab Al-Eemaan 9507]

 

The Importance of Reading The Biographies of The Salafus Saaleh [The Pious Predecessors]

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah] said:

I saw that solely being preoccupied with studying Fiqh and listening to [transmission] of hadeeth is not enough to rectify the heart, except [when] combined with [the authentic narrations concerning the] softening of the hearts, and looking into the biographies of the pious predecessors.  As for having knowledge of Halaal and Haraam only, it does not have a great strength in softening the heart; rather the softening of the heart is [attained] by  mentioning the Ahaadeeth on the subject matter and the stories of the pious predecessors. That is because they [i.e. the pious predecessors] grasped the intent behind narrating [ahadeeth]–they demonstrated the tangible obligated actions by way of them, practical encounter with their meanings and the goals behind them. And there is nothing that will make you experience this, except after cultivation and experience.

That is because I find that the ambition of the majority of the Muhadditheen and the students of hadeeth is [focused on acquiring hadeeth that has the closest chain of transmission from the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) and gathering numerous authentic Ahaadeeth on a particular subject matter in the religion etc]. And the majority of the jurists [focus on] the science of debate and that which gives one the upper hand [i.e. what he observed during his era]; so how can the heart be softened through these affairs?

Indeed, a group of the pious predecessors aspired to see that a righteous slave should look to his character and upright guidance and not [merely] the knowledge he has acquired. That is [because] his character and upright guidance are the fruits of his knowledge. So understand this!  The student of Hadeeth and Fiqh should combine [seeking after hadeeth and fiqh] with studying the lives of the pious predecessors and the Zuhhaad, so that it can be a means to softening the heart. Indeed, books have been compiled regarding the affairs and manners of each one of those well-known outstanding men [of piety]. A book has been compiled regarding the affairs of Al-Hasan [Al-Basri], Sufyaan Ath-Thawri, Ibraaheem Bin Ad-ham, Bishr Al-Haafiy, Ahmad Bin Hanbal, Ma’roof and other than them amongst the scholars and the Zuhhaad.

[An Excerpt from ‘Saydul khaatir’ Page 171. Daar Ibn Rajab. 1st edition 2003. Slightly paraphrased]

Verily! We Have Made That Which Is On Earth As An Adornment For It, In Order That We May Test Them As to Which of Them Are Best In Deeds

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Articles, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq', Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah (The Most High) stated:

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا

وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا

Verily! We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds. [i.e.those who do good deeds in the most perfect manner, that means to do them (deeds) totally for Allah’s sake and in accordance to the legal ways of the Prophet]. And verily! We shall make all that is on it (the earth) a bare dry soil (without any vegetation or trees, etc.).

Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) stated: Allaah (The Most High) informed (us) that He has made everything on the face of the earth- such as the delicious foods and drinks, the beautiful houses, the trees, the rivers, the vegetations, the fruits, the beautiful scenes (or beautiful things that captures the attention of the eyes), the pretty gardens, the beautiful images, gold, silver, horses, camels and other than them- as an adornment for it, a trial and test.  [لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا -that We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds]; that is: The most sincere (i.e. sincerity in worship) and most correct (i.e. carry out deeds in accordance with the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet).

And besides this, Allaah will (finally) make all these things disappear and the earth will return to been a bare dry soil- its enjoyment will disappear and come to an end. This is the reality of this worldly life! Indeed Allaah has made this worldly life clearly visible to us and warned us not to be deceived by it. He urged us towards the home of the (afterlife) – whose enjoyment is ever lasting- out of mercy to us. However, the one who merely looks at the outward appearance of this worldly life and not its true reality is deceived by its adornment and beauty; so he goes along with it like animals do and enjoy himself like cattle that graze around freely. He neither gives concern to the rights of his Lord nor gives importance to knowing his Lord; rather his concern is only to follow his desires in every way he can and in every situation. When death arrives to the likes of these people, they are restless because of the disappearance of the enjoyment (of the worldly pleasures) and due to what they have sent forth of evil deeds.

As for the one who looks at the true reality of this worldly life and knows the true purpose behind it and from it, he utilises from it that which will aid him to fulfil the reason it was created for him (i.e. he utilises the worldly blessings in obedience to Allaah). He utilises his noble lifespan as an opportunity (to obey Allaah). He makes this worldly life a place of transition and not a place of permanent (joy); a place of travel and not a place of permanent residence. Therefore, he strives to know his lord, fulfil the commands of his Lord (and keep away from what his Lord has forbidden) and (strives to) perfect his deeds. This person has the highest station in the presence of his Lord and he is deserving- (by the kindness and mercy of his Lord) – of every good treatment, bliss, nobility and happiness (in the hereafter).

[Source: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’. slightly paraphrased]